Bravo warns of early pressure

T&T captain Dwayne Bravo says the key to winning the Nagico Super50 series is for his team to apply pressure and sustain it throughout the 100 overs in which the game is contested.

Bravo said the fact that the Red Force got early wickets against Jamaica in the semi-final is what spurred them on to victory and they will be looking for more of the same in the final tomorrow.

T&T beat the Jamaicans by seven wickets after bowling the visitors for a meagre 49 in the semifinal on Wednesday. It followed emphatic wins against the Leeward Islands and the Combined Campuses and Colleges in the preliminary round of the tournament. T&T also played Barbados but lost that match.

"None of us expected and planned for what happened in that Jamaica game. It was a spur of the moment decision for me to bowl first because Ravi Rampaul always bowls first. I took the ball, got early wickets and this really put the Jamaicans under pressure. I was happy to get wickets with the new ball because we put early pressure on them, maintained that in the middle and finished them off in the end."

Looking ahead he says that whoever gets into the finals, the key will be for his team to go out there and play hard cricket. "We don't prefer any particular team. Whoever shows up we have to play at our best in order to lift the title. It would be great for us to lift the title and we are hoping to do just that."

Looking at his current form which has been very good, Bravo said :"It's good to perform for your team which ever team I play for. So far my game is on point these days and I just want to continue."

Meanwhile, manager of the team Manohar Ramsaran said Bravo's leadership will land T&T the title. "I think that Bravo is really leading this team well and he will go on and lift the title. He is a much improved leader and the team is playing for him.

"With this attitude he brings around the team, they go out there feeling very confident and feeling they can beat anybody and this is what they are doing.

"Bravo is also in great form and he is leading from the front and when you are leading by example, the others rally behind you and we are seeing this happening."

Meanwhile over 6,000 tickets have been snapped up for tomorrow's final.

The Red Force will meet either Barbados or Guyana from 2pm. Checks with the T&T Cricket Board (TTCB) have revealed that ticket sales are going well.

CEO of the TTCB, Suruj Ragoonath said :"So far we have sold at least half of the tickets for the finals and this ground can cater for 12,000, so we are doing pretty well."

Tickets for the game are going at $50.

Offices at the Queen's Park Oval will remain open today for fans seeking tickets.